5', 32D, 21yo with back pain for the last six years. Am I a good candidate for breast reduction?

At size 32 D the weight of your breasts is approximately 400 grams.  Insurance companies will not authorize reductions with breasts that small and you will have to pay for it yourself.  There is an alternate procedure that transfers the weight of your breast to the underlying muscle using only a circumareola incision and avoids the ugly vertical scars.  This technique will reshape your breast to increase upper pole fullness, increase cleavage, which will relieve your back pain by transferring the weight of the breast to the underlying muscle.  The cost of this technique ic $8,000 to $10,000.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Hello! Thank you for your question.  It is a safe procedure, in which your plastic surgeon will reduce the amount of breast tissue, reshape your breasts, raise the nipple-areolar complex to its appropriate position (possibly making the size smaller, if needed), and ultimately ameliorate the possible complaints that you do have for the reason that you are having this procedure (e.g., neck/back pain, migraines, rashes/infections, shoulder grooving, etc).It would be in your best interest to have a mammogram prior to the procedure for screening prior to this procedure, as the architecture imaging of your breast will slightly change afterwards. Well known data exists that having a breast reduction will in fact lower your chance for developing breast cancer, simply because the amount of tissue will be less.Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who will discuss the procedure with you, examine, and assist you in determining if this is the right procedure for you.  Voice your complaints - your insurance will likely require a detailed description of your history and complaints as well as photo and an estimate of how much tissue will be removed.  You should give a description of the therapies that you have done to ameliorate your complaints thus far.  Any other notes from other physicians is helpful.  It would also behoove you to discuss your issues yourself with your insurance carrier.  Hope that this helps!  Best wishes and good luck!

    A woman at goal weight with larger breasts and these symptoms will likely benefit from breast reduction.  Insurance may cover the cost but certain parameters usually have to be met, which may conflict with your goals for breast size and shape.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA